Font Designer – Ralf Weissmantel

Linotype Contacta is part of the TakeType Library, chosen from contestants of Linotype’s International Digital Type Design Contests of 1994 and 1997. Weissmantel designed this font to display no stroke contrast at all. Instead of using conventional letter forms, Contacta is a more designed-oriented font, with some characters recognizable only in context, not necessarily at first glance. The technical, unconventional forms look almost like a maze, especially when set together. This font is not suitable for text but makes a unique impression in logos and headlines.

Boogie is an ironic reference to pop art, and to disco lettering from the 1960s and 70s. Its round forms and outlines evoke the flashing, pulsating lights and music of that era. Shipping with five different, width-compatible fonts, the Boogie typeface has four different components: an outlined letterform is the base element, and forms the first font. Three additional fonts may be layered over top of this base, surrounding the first font with up to three bubble-outlines. In graphics applications like Adobe PhotoShop or Illustrator, these elements can each be assigned different colors. There is also a fifth font, which contains the base outlined letterform pre-surrounded by three additional outlines of the same color.
Boogie works best in large headline, display and signage applications, where its forms can be clearly seen and enjoyed. When different colored layers are applied, text set in Boogie will gyrate and jive across the page!

Weissmantel has worked as an art director for various international advertising agencies, and has led Corporate Design projects for firms such as Grey and MetaDesign. His design work, honored internationally, has been included in the typography collection of the Museum for Art and Trade in Hamburg. He is currently teaching graphic design at the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences. Weissmantel has been an associate of the United Designers Network since August 2002.
Boogie received an Honorable Mention in the 2003 International Type Design Contest, sponsored by Linotype GmbH.

The Know How section offers detailed background knowledge to deal with all enquiries about the use of fonts.